Person:William Pratt (65)

William Pratt was baptised on 9th September 1821 at Willian in Hertfordshire. He was the youngest child of Elizabeth Pratt, formerly Copps, and her husband John Pratt, a labourer. When William was only five years old his father died.

In 1834, when William was twelve years old, his mother married again, to a farmer called William Norman. William's mother died in 1839, when William was seventeen years old.

The 1841 census finds William living with his sister Hannah and her family in Willian. He was described as a labourer.

On 10th May 1845, aged 23, William married Sophia Howard at Willian. They went on to have a daughter called Emma the following year, but she died when only two days old. She was followed by a daughter called Eliza in 1848, then a daughter called Emily in 1849, who also died as a baby.

The 1851 census finds William, Sophia and their surviving daughter Eliza living in Willian. William was an agricultural labourer, whilst Sophia was a plait maker.

It would appear that William and Sophia had a son called William in 1853, whose birth was registered in the Hitchin district (which covered Willian) although no baptism has been found for him. They then appear to have moved to the London area, having a son called John born in the St Pancras district in 1855.

They later returned to Willian. William's son John died at the age of three in 1858 and was buried at Willian on 18th June 1858. Sophia herself died a couple of months later, being buried at Willian on 18th September 1858, aged about 36. It is not clear what became of William. His daughter Eliza went on to be brought up by Sophia's parents in Willian.

1. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Willian Parish Registers.

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Willian in the County of Hertford in the Year 1821
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents' Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   69	Sept[embe]r 9	William	John & Elizabeth	Pratt	Willian	Laborer	William Wollaston Pym Vicar

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 437; Book 11; Folio 3; Page 1, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Willian, Hertfordshire
   W[illia]m Moles, male, 35 [1801-6], Lab[oure]r, not born in county
   George Moles, male, 10 [1830/1], Lab[oure]r, born in county
   Eliza Moles, female, 8 [1832/3], born in county
   Thomas Moles, male, 3 [1837/8], born in county
   Hanah Moles, female, 35 [1801-6], born in county
   Maria Moles, female, 13 [1827/8], born in county
   ~ [second household in same house]
   W[illia]m Pratt, male, 20 [1816-21], Lab[oure]r, born in county

   William appears to have been living in the same house as his sister Hannah Moles, and next door to his stepfather William Norman.

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1709; Folio 135; Page 5, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Village, Willian, Hertfordshire
   William Pratt, head, married, male, 29 [1821/2], Ag[ricultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Sophia Pratt, wife, married, female, 27 [1823/4], Platting maker, b. Walsworth, Hertfordshire
   Eliza Pratt, daughter, female, 2 [1848/9], b. Willian, Hertfordshire